Harvester.



1. B. SPRY.

Patented May 2!,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Qnventoz 1. B. SPRY.

HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 19H.

mama.

3 mum 1 T01 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFlCE.

J Essn .B. SPRY, or COINJOCK, non'rrr CAROLINA.

HAnvnsTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application filed. May 9, 1917. Seria1 No. 167,557.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn B. SPRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coinjock, in the county of Currituck and State of North Carolina, have invented certain useful Improvements in Harvesters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. I

The present invention has reference generally to improvements in that class of inventions known as harvesters, and more particularly relates to a pea picker.

As the primary aim and object, the present invention contemplates the provision of novel main and auxiliary beating means mounted in the casing provided at the front end of the body of the harvester for breaking the pods so as to separate the peas therefrom.

g It is an additional and equally important object of this invention to provide novel fan means operable simultaneously with the actuation of the beating means for blowing the pods. and leaves, etc., which are removed from the vines during the course of the actuation of the heating means toward the rear end of the body of the harvester, which is constructed to form a receiving compartment therefor.-

As an additional object the present invention embraces the provision of novel means for impartin rotary movement from the main engine s aft to the main and auxiliary heating means and the fan means so that the parts will actuate simultaneously with each other.

More particularly, the present invention consists in the provision of improved guarding means mounted above the slot in the bottom of the harvester beneath the casing for preventing the peas which have been separated from the pods passing through the vine-receiving slot and for directing the peas into the receiving platforms therefor positioned to either side of the slot.

More specific objects of the present invention include the provision of novel means for limiting relative movement of the guards; and to provide improved resilient means for holding the guards in closely spaced relation present invention may be said to consist in the provision of a novel devlce of the character mentioned with a new of compactness,

with respect to each other.. Among the other aims and objects the.

' toward and in which the number of parts are few,

the construction simple, the cost of production low and the efficiency high.

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus will be brou ht out more in detail in the description to ollow which, for a clear understanding of the invention, should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, .and wherein is disclosed for the purpose of illustration a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the invention. It is to be noted in this connection that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention .or the principle of operation of the various parts' The preferred embodiment of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompany" ling drawings, in which:

stantially rectangular hollow body 1, through which is extended the transverse axle 2, on the respective ends of which are rotatably mounted supporting wheels 3. The relation between the wheels and body is such as to dispose the bottom of the body in close relation with respect to the surface. A tongue support 4 is connected to the front end of the body, while the tongue 5 is operatively connected to the support and serves as a means for supporting a doubletree 6 for the draft animals (not shown).

The front end of the body to provide a casing 7 of a substantially rectangular configuration, being closed at the top by a cover 8. The front wall of the body of the casing is provided with a vine-receiving opening 9,the sides of which converge the center of the bottom, the latter 1 is constructed being provided with a longitudinal vine receiving slot 10 medially thereof andterminating adjacent the rear end of theca'sing. The vine guards 11 are mounted around the sides and rear ends of the slot and are flush therewith, being supported on the body, while the outer nds of the guides are rounded outwardly as indicated by. the numeral 12 to facilitate-engagement with the vines' .With a view toward providing improved means for separating the peas 'froni the pods a longitudinal Fshaft 13 has the re pective endsjournaled in thefront andrear "Walls of casing 7 ,--it being positioned approxir mately medially er the casing and above' the slot 10;; A plurality'of beater arms l t'radiate from the shaft and serve 'to' strike'the vines *asithe harvester is being'drawn there- I over so .as to consequently arrange-them" within thecasmg. The beating action serves;

to separatethe peas from the pods- The auxiliary beating means consists in the provision of stub shafts 15 journaled' transversely'in the sides of' the body adjacent the frontvwalhone of the shafts also passing through a'reinforcing board 16 on one side of the body and the casing, as indicated in Fig. 1. Beater arms 17 radiate-from'the" inner' 'ends of the stub shafts' 15 and act upon the vines during rotation of the shafts;

I As intimated, improved means have been provided for directmg the pods and other pieces of the vine within the body and c'as ing toward the receiving compartment 18 provided in the rear end of thebody. In reducing this feature of the invention to practice fan blades 19 radiate from the shaft 13, being'positionedin advance of the beating arms and in spaced relation tothe front wall. The air, of course, during the actua of the-engine isjournaled to one side of the rear wall of the casing and alsoin a journal bracket 23 projecting from the reinforcing board. 16. A pulley wheel 24'is carried by the shaft 22, whilea belt25 operates about the pulley wheel andalso about another pulley Wheel 26 carried bvthe inner end of the shaft 13.- By this arrangement it will beappreciated that when the engine is in actuation owing to the pulley and belt connec-' tion betweenthe shafts 22 and 13 the latter will be rotated during the actuation of the engine. A beveled gear 27 is carried by the outeren'd of the shaft 22 andm'eshes with another beveled gear 28 carried by'a transversely extendin shaft 29, the respective ends-of whichare journaled in the sides of thecasing 7 Sprocket wheels 30 are car- "rie'clby the projecting ends of the shaft 29, while chains 31 are trained thereabout and also 'aboutother sprocket wheels 32 carried by. the. projectingends of the stub shafts 15. It will be appreciated by this arrangement that the shaft 29 will be-vrotated-owing to the relation fofithgears -27 and 28- and be- "cause of the sprocket. and chain/arrange 'ments the shafts 29 and 15 will consequently be rotated simultaneously :with the shaft 22 and also with the shaft 13 Which'ca'rries the .mainbeating ineahsand fan means In. order. to. prevent thefipeas". from accidentally falling through the slot 10 Sums- *quentto being-separated,improved guardfl 8 5 I plates 3 1 are provided Theinnerends of the plates are pivotally' mounted, as at 35', to the I I upper surfaces ofthe guides 11,{the respective ends of .the plates being rounded, as'indicated by the numeral 36,- to facilitate engagement and disengagement between and with the vines. iSuitab'le flexible meansis'uch as cables 37, the respective ends of which are connected to the ou'te-rends of the;plates='and-to thefront wall of the body, serve to limit relative movement of the plates toward each '.oth'er,1yet permit-"the"plates tosp'read -toconsequently accommodate the stem of a vine therebetween. =Anglefg-arms 38 h'av'e theirinner ends connectedtothe inner ends of the guard plates 34; while their outer? portions 39 extend rearwardlyin-jdiyergent relation'with respect to each other? Suit able resilient meanspsuch as a coil spring) 40, has the respective ends connected'tothe outer ends of theport-i'ons' 39 of tlie'arms and is tensioned so as'to normally maintain the gu'ard plates 34in =close' relation-with respect'to each other and approximately over and above the center of'the slot so' tha't the stems will consequentlybe held-in suclr position so as to be readily acted upon by f the main beating arms.

The mode'of operation of the present in- Y 'yention will be reviewedas follows 'z'Assuming that the partsha've been assembled in the manner'described and that draft ani-= mals (not shoWn) are connected to the har vester-and aremoving forwardl-y' over and ,above be directed by the guides 11 thrQti'ghthea row of vines so that thevines will E opening9'into-the casing and also' into the slot 11, when vines'are I 'mately half waythrough the slot they-will be engaged by therotating main beatingarms '14 which, 'during'a continued "rotation, separate the peasfrom the podsfi 'The iw,

positioned approXivinesare held 'directlyabove the sl'ot inthe path of movementof the arms by means ofthe guard plates 34, Whichybesides accom'- plishing this, purpose;iserve to prevent the escape of peas through the slot, directing them toward the receiving boards or plates ll therefor, which are positioned upon opposite sides of the slot. Inasmuch as the auxiliary beating arms are rotated simultaneously with the main beating arms and in a direction indicated by the arrow mark in Fig. 2, they will serve, besides separating the peas from the pods, to throw the pods toward the receiving compartment 18 therefor. Inasmuch as the fan blades rotate with the main shaft 13 a circulation of air will be created within the casing to direct the pods and leaves, etc., beneath the rear wall of the casing into the compartment 18. Of course this actuation is continued while the harvester is being drawn over the groimd.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A pea picker including a rectangular body, an axle mounted transversely thereof, wheels journaled on the ends of the axle for supporting the body, the rear end of the body serving as a pod receiving compartment, the front end of the body being provided with a longitudinally extending slot, the front wall of the body being provided with a vine receiving opening communicating with the slot, a casing constructed above the front end of the body, a longitudinal shaft the respective ends of which are journaled in the front and rear walls of the casing, beater arms radiating from the shaft for separating the peas from the pods, receiving boards mounted in the bottom of the body to the sides of the slot, fan blades radiating from the shaft in advance of the beater arms for forcing the pods into the compartment therefor, a main shaft, means for rotating the shaft, means for transmitting rotary motion from the main shaft to the longitudinal shaft to actuate the beater arms and fan blades.

2. A pea picker including a rectangular body the bottom of which is provided with a slot near the front end, the front wall of the body being provided with a vine receiving opening, beater arms operatively mounted above the slot for separating the peas from the pods, guards pivoted upon opposite sides of the slot and serving to maintain the vines as they are engaged by the guards in a substantially upright position and for preventing the escape of the peas through the slot subsequent to the separation thereof.

3. In a pea picker, a supporting body, the bottom of which is provided with a longitudinal slot adjacent the front wall while the front wall is provided with a vine receiving opening, guides supported by the body adjacent the sides of the slot, receiving boards mounted above the body and between the guides and the sides of the body,

cooperating beating and fanning means mounted above the slot for separating the peas from the pods and for blowing the pods toward the rear end of the body subsequent to separation, guard plates pivoted to the guides, flexible means for limiting the relative movement of the plates toward each other,'and resilient means for normally holding the plates in close relation with each other.

a. In a pea picker, a vehicle body the bottom of which is provided with a longitudinal slot adjacent the front wall while the front wall is provided with a vine receiving opening communicating with the front end of the slot, opposed guides mounted on the upper surface of the bottom adjacent the opposite sides of the slot, receiving boards mounted upon the bottom of the body between the guides and the sides of the body, cooperating beating and fanning means mounted above the slot for separating the peas from the pods and for blowing the pods beyond the rear end of the body subsequent to separation, guard plates pivoted to the upper edges of the guides and arranged longitudinally thereof, arms extending rearwardly and in divergent relation from the guard plates adjacent the inner ends thereof, a coil spring having its respective ends connected to the arms and tensioned so as to normally hold the guard plates in close relation with respect to each other and approximately over the center of the slot so that the stems of vines will be held above the slot and be readily acted upon by the beating means. and flexible cables having their respective ends connected to the body and to the guard plates for limiting relative movement of the guard plates toward each other and permitting the spreading of the plates to accommodate vines therebetween.

5. A pea picker including a transportably mounted rectangular body the bottom of which is provided adjacent the front end with a longitudinal vine receiving slot, the rear end of the body serving as a pod receiving compartment, the front wall of the body being provided with a vine receiving opening communicating with the slot, a casing constructed above the front end of the body, a longitudinally extending shaft having the respective ends journaled in the front and rear walls of the casing, main beater arms radiating from the shaft for separating the peas from the pods, fan blades carried by the shaft for directing the pods toward the receiving compartment therefor subsequent to the separation of the peas therefrom. a main shaft, means for rotating the shaft, means for transmitting rotary motion from the main shaft to the longitudinally extending shaft, a transverse shaft journaled in the sldes of the casing and operably connected to the main shaft so as to be actuated simultaneously therewith, stub shafts jour: naled in the sides of the body, auxiliary for directihg the pods and Vines toward the rear end of the body; and means for trans-r I mitting.rvota 'y motion from the transverse l shaft'to the stub shafts s0 :that the auxiliary 10 beaterarms Will be actuated SllllflltflllGOLlSl'y:

Withthe mainvbeatel' arms and the fanning a JESSE B. SPRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaeh, by addressinglthe Commissioner, of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.? 

